Pogo stick type exercising device having a torroid shape bouncing element

ABSTRACT

A pogo stick type exercising device characterized by a resilient, inflatable ball in the shape of a torroid defining the bouncing element of the device, a rigid foot-stand cover for the ball and a pogo stick handle therefor, structured and combined to produce a jumping or bouncing toy and exercising device having enhanced play value and an attractive and effective structure and assembly. The pogo stick handle extends through the axis of the torroid ball and through the cover, the ball, cover and handle being secured in assembled condition by the engagement of a part of the handle with a part of said torroid ball at its axis and by the attachment of the handle to the cover.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Donald F. Brown Crestwood, Mo.

[21 Appl. No. 42,222

[22] Filed June I, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assignee Tufl Industries, Inc.

Hazelwood, Mo.

[54] POGO STICK TYPE EXERCISING DEVICE HAVING A TORROID SHAPE BOUNCING 3,122,377 2/1964 Mortenson 277/57 E 3,179,409 4/1965 Marino 272/57 E FOREIGN PATENTS 370,108 4/1932 Great Britain 272/57 E Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Richard Dror Attorney-James and Franklin ABSTRACT: A pogo stick type exercising device characterized by a resilient, inflatable ball in the shape of a torroid defining the bouncing element of the device, a rigid foot-stand cover for the ball and a pogo stick handle therefor, structured and combined to produce a jumping or bouncing toy and exercising device having enhanced play value and an attractive and effective structure and assembly. The pogo stick handle extends through the axis of the torroid ball and through the cover, the ball, cover and handle being secured in assembled condition by the engagement of a part of the handle with a part of said torroid ball at its axis and by the attachment of the handle to the cover.

PATENTEU 05c 1 4197! INVENTOR DONALD F. BROWN BY f3 ATTORNEY POGO STICK TYPE EXERCISIN G DEVICE HAVING A TORROID SHAPE BOUNCIN G ELEMENT This invention relates to a pogo stick type exercising device.

The pogo stick type exercising device of the present invention, differing from the many conventional and other forms of pogo sticks and jumping toys hitherto devised, is characterized by the following features for enhancing the play value of the device and improving the structural and assembly properties thereof:

1. The bouncing element of the device is in the form of an inflatable ball of a shape which imparts to the ball a large area of ground contact thereby improving its balance and stability in ground engagement and in jumping;

2. The shape given to the ball is such that the interior of the ball provides an internal strengthening support to the ball when inflated;

3.. The pogo stick or handle for the device and a foot stand in the form of a cover for the ball are associated to provide a three element structure which may be readily assembled with the use of a simple securing member and may be as readily disassembled for repair, part replacement and storage.

The prime objects of my present invention centers about the provision of a pogo stick type exercising device possessing the above described features.

To the accomplishment of these objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the invention pertains to the pogo stick type exercising device as is more particularly defined in the appended claims when taken with the following specification and the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the pogo stick type exercising device of the invention shown on a reduced scale and depicted in jumping or hopping action;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view thereof taken in longitudinal cross section; and showing the device as it appears in deflated, inflated and jump conditions;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2 showing the device in deflated condition; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the device in deflated condition.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, the pogo stick type of exercising device of the invention comprises in its essential elements a resilient, inflatable ball, generally designated as in the shape of a torroid defining the bouncing element of the device as best depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a rigid cover generally designated as 12 surmounting the torroid-shaped ball, and an upright handle generally designated as 14 for the device extending through the axis of revolution 16 of the torroid and through an aperture 18 of the cover, the ball, cover and handle being secured together in assembled condition in the manner best depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawings and further described below.

vThe torroid-shaped ball 10, molded of a flexible, resilient, inflatable material such as polyvinyl chloride, is shaped to provide in its deflated form a top wall part 20, a round ball-shaped wall or surface part 22 about its exterior, a wall or surface part 24 about its axis interior defined by an upper tubular portion 26 and a lower conical portion 28, and a bottom wall part 30. The deflated condition of the torroid ball is depicted in dotand-dash lines in FIG. 2 and in full lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. The torroid ball is provided with an inflating valve device 32.

The rigid cover 12 surrnounting the torroid ball comprises an inverted cup-shaped member, made of a substantially rigid plastic such as polyethylene, shaped to provide a flat top wall or part 34 serving as a foot stand for the user, as best depicted in FIG. 1, an outwardly tapered circular depending flange part 36 encompassing the exterior surface of the torroid wall 22 at its top, and a central tubular part 38. Secured to the top wall 34 are the two foot pads 40, 40.

The pogo stick or handle 14 comprises an upright stick, tubular in form and preferably made of metal, shaped to provide an outtapered or conical portion 42 at its lower end. The tubular handle is closed at its top by a removable cover 44. The tubular handle is preferably provided with a projecting reed device for a purpose to be described hereinafier.

The three element pogo stick type device described is assembled by inserting the handle 14 and moving the same upwardly through the opening 52 provided by the interior wall or surface part 24 of the torroid ball and through the tubular part 38 of the cover 12 until the lower conical portion 42 of the handle engages and is stopped by the upper end of the conical portion 28 of the interior wall part 24 of the torroid ball, these parts engaging each other for the securement together of the handle and the torroid. The assembly is then completed by inserting and fastening a bolt 48 in registering openings formed in the tube 14 and tubular part 38 of the cover element 12 for the securement of the handle and the cover, as will be clear from an inspection of FIG. 2 of the drawings. The three elements of the device are thus assembled and secured together simply by means of the bolt 48. For disassembling the device for repair, part replacement or storage, the same simple procedure, in reverse is followed.

The described three element assembly is further characterized by the following structural and functional features:

a. When the torroid ball 10 is inflated, as best shown in FIG. 2, the exterior wall 22 is blown out to the expanded ball fonn 22', properly restrained at its top by the depending flange 36 of the cover 12;

b. The wall or surfaces 28, 28' of the interior part 24 of the torroid move into engagement as at 50 (FIG. 2), thereby providing an internal strengthening support to the ball under inflated conditions;

c. The inflated parts 30', 30' of the bottom wall 30 of the torroid taken together with the central opening 52 provide or present a large area for ground and retum-toground contact, thereby imparting to the device a proper balance and stability in mounting and jumping use of the device;

d. A forceful impact of the device and its mount with the ground, in producing the added expansion of the exterior walls of the torroid and the added flattening of the bottom wall thereof, to the dotted line condition represented by the exterior walls 22 22 (FIG. 2) and the bottom walls 30, 30, produces a strong upward, energy transmitting surge and bounce to the body of user or mount; and

e. The open communication between the tubular handle 14 and the open generally tubular interior formation of the torroid wall 24 permits a surge of air to blow therethrough with each bounce to activate and sound a musical instrument provided by the reed 46, thereby imparting a pleasing musical effect in the operation of the device.

The use and operation of the pogo stick type of device of the invention and the advantages in pleasurable exercise and structural manipulation afforded thereby as an exercising device and toy will in the main be fully apparent from the above detailed description. It will be further apparent that many changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention defined by the following claims.

Iclaim:

1. A pogo stick type exercising device comprising a resilient, inflatable ball in the shape of a torroid defining the bouncing element of said device, a rigid cover surrnounting said torroid-shaped ball, and an upright handle for the device extending through the axis of the torroid and through the said cover, the torroid-shaped ball having a round surface part about its exterior and a surface part about its axis interior defined by an upper tubular portion and a lower conical portion, the ball, cover and handle being secured in assembled condition by the engagement of a part of the handle with a part of said torroid at its axis and by the attachment of the handle to said cover.

2. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 1, in which the handle is tubular and is in open communication with the interior surface part of the torroid ball.

3. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 2, in which the tubular handle has a conical portion at its lower end, the tubular and conical portions of the handle engagingly mating handle.

5. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 4, in which the cup-shaped cover member is formed with a flat part serving as a foot stand and with a tapered circular flange part encompassing the exterior surface of the torroid ball.

t I i l I! 

1. A pogo stick type exercising device comprising a resilient, inflatable ball in the shape of a torroid defining the bouncing element of said device, a rigid cover surmounting said torroidshaped ball, and an upright handle for the device extending through the axis of the torroid and through the said cover, the torroid-shaped ball having a round surface part about its exterior and a surface part about its axis interior defined by an upper tubular portion and a lower conical portion, the ball, cover and handle being secured in assembled condition by the engagement of a part of the handle with a part of said torroid at its axis and by the attachment of the handle to said cover.
 2. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 1, in which the handle is tubular and is in open communication with the interior surface part of the torroid ball.
 3. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 2, in which the tubular handle has a conical portion at its lower end, the tubular and conical portions of the handle engagingly mating with the tubular and conical portions of the interior torroid surface for securement of the handle and torroid.
 4. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 1, in which the surmounting cover comprises an inverted cup-shaped member having a central tubular part which receives and is attached to the tubular handle for securement of the cover and handle.
 5. The pogo stick type exercising device of claim 4, in which the cup-shaped cover member is formed with a flat part serving as a foot stand and with a tapered circular flange part encompassing the exterior surface of the torroid ball. 